Explosion aboard Jerusalem bus, 20 casualties - Israeli radio

[MowCowWhoHow III]

Source: Reuters

JERUSALEM, April 18 (Reuters) - An explosion aboard a bus in Jerusalem caused around 20 casualties on Monday, Israeli media said, and police said initial indications were that it was a militant attack.

Television images showed smoke billowing from a burned-out bus on Derech Hebron, in southwest Jerusalem. It was not immediately clear if the casualties were dead or wounded

Read more: http://news.trust.org/item/20160418150520-dwlc7

[Merryland]

1. Does Israel use bomb detection when people get on buses?

This seems to be such a common occurrence, I'm not getting it.

[Sunlei]

2. wish they would but busses run all over the place, its their main public transportation.

Jerusalem is packed with people and tourists.

[brooklynite]

3. Imagine if the M15 bus on 2nd Ave had to do a bag check every 2-3 blocks...

Long distance buses are one thing; really impractical with urban/regional buses.

[leftynyc]

4. If they had the bomb

strapped to their body, a bag check wouldn't even help.

[elljay]

10. No bomb detection

but Israelis are very well trained and take precautions. There is really nothing practical that can be done - they would have to physically separate each passenger and do a full body search before allowing him on the bus. Obviously you can't run a public bus service this way.

[bikebloke]

16. Unless it as changed.

There's no real queue boarding busses. Almost a free-for-all. At least when I lived there.

[ericson00]

5. Israel and America will stand forever against Islamic terror

whether the extreme-left here (and the extreme left AND right of Europe) likes it or not. God Bless Israel and America, the two greatest countries on Earth today.

[villager]

9. Can you specify what kind of "extreme left" "terror" is currently happening in America?

I have noticed a pronounced uptick in extreme right terror, however...

[ForgoTheConsequence]

11. Thanks drunk uncle.

...

[Fast Walker 52]

60. LOL!

[maxsolomon]

15. you go get em, hard ass

your attitude perpetuates the conflicts.

[Marrah_G]

31. I find that to be part of the problem frankly

[Fast Walker 52]

61. me too.

[TowneshipRebellion]

51. Yes, I stand against the terrorist and asymmetric

attacks by the Likud government against the Palestinian people.

[Fast Walker 52]

59. oh my god, are you kidding me?

[oberliner]

6. May not have been a terrorist attack

They aren't sure what caused the explosion. At least that is what reports out of Israel are saying at this point.

[R Merm]

8. The Mayor is now saying that there was a bomb in the back of the bus.

[sulphurdunn]

7. Recent reports indicate it was an empty bus

that exploded. The injured included passengers on the bus behind it and Palestinian pedestrians.

[jtuck004]

12. The same country that just murdered a Palestinian on public television, and talks about

charges on the same page as this story.

There is no good side in the Israeli occupation.

[leftynyc]

13. Except they are charging

that solider with manslaughter (and nice that you blame an entire country for that). He wont be getting a parade and his family wont be getting a stipend and they wont be giving out candy.

[sulphurdunn]

19. Have you seen the video?

Are you suggesting that this man should not be tried and possibly punished because of non-violent behavior you attribute to Palestinians?

[leftynyc]

32. WTF are you babbling about?

WHERE did I say ANYTHING like that? Just pointing out that the Israeli's charge, try and convict their criminals - even when it comes from their military. I know it pains you to admit the obvious but that's not my problem. The Palestinians would give them a parade, give their families a fee, name a street after them (if they REALLY did a good job and blew themselves up with others) and give their children candy. You've seen the stories. I don't blame you for trying to change the subject onto charging me with saying something never said but I wont let you shove words into my mouth.

[sulphurdunn]

37. No, Israeli Jews

are all about justice and would never celebrate the deaths of Palestinians. If you really believe that you must think the Pope is a Protestant.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/24/video-jewish-extremists-mocking-death-of-toddler-wedding-israel

[leftynyc]

38. Are you having a comprehension problem?

We're talking about being charged with murder (not disgustingly bad taste). The Israeli government CHARGE their criminals, the Palestinian government celebrates theirs. They even kill people for "collaborating" with the Israeli's. Your defense of the thoroughly corrupt Abbas and for the terrorist hamas is noted.

[sulphurdunn]

40. Noted?

I'm not a Palestinian, and I don't live in Israel or Palestine. You can fucking 'note' anything you want, but no IDF terrorists from the thoroughly corrupt Israeli government will be kicking my door down in the middle of the night because someone like you suggested, without proof, that I am a supporter of terrorists organizations.

[Behind the Aegis]

46. Did you also notice the change of subject?

Look how many are discussing the actual terrorist attack against Israel, as opposed to those who made it about "Israel the Evil."

[sulphurdunn]

49. Initially, the cause of this explosion was undetermined.

Evidence now suggests it was deliberate. Committing such acts against civilians is always morally unjustifiable and is most definitely an act of terrorism. That fact has nothing whatsoever to do with the status quo that currently exists between Israelis and Palestinians. There are plenty of unconscionable acts attributable to both sides on a daily basis in this shameful conflict.

[leftynyc]

58. Of course I noticed

It's all they have. They don't care about Israeli lives. They're busy defending abbas and his merry band of thieves.

[killbotfactory]

63. Are they gonna bulldoze his family home? nt

[oberliner]

14. That Palestinian had just attacked two Israelis

And the Israeli who shot him is being charged for manslaughter and could get twenty years in jail.

Contrast that with Palestinian leaders in Gaza actively celebrating and calling for more and more stabbing attacks against Israelis.

[jtuck004]

17. "attacks against..." their occupiers.n/t

[branford]

18. Do we really need to list all the stabbing and other attacks against Israeli civilians?

However, if your claim is that all Israelis are "occupiers," and therefore legitimate targets of attack, a position unequivocally against international law and the platform of the Democratic Party, I assume you also consider all Palestinians (Muslims? Arabs?) active terrorists because of the actions of a few, particularly when celebrated by their actual government.

Be careful about the standards you imply or impute to the Israelis unless you are really prepared to support them when applied to the Palestinians.

[sulphurdunn]

25. I think you need to brush up

on international law regarding occupied territories. Israel does not recognized the 4th Geneva convention as applicable to its occupation and slow annexation of the West Bank, so I will not quote it here. Of course, it doesn't recognize UN resolutions on Palestine either, but I thought to quote a couple anyway.

United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/33/24 of 29 November 1978: "Reaffirms the legitimacy of the struggle of peoples for independence, territorial integrity, national unity and liberation from colonial and foreign domination and foreign occupation by all available means, particularly armed struggle;”

"Reaffirms the legitimacy of the peoples’ struggle for liberation form colonial and foreign domination and alien subjugation by all available means, including armed struggle; … Strongly condemns all Governments which do not recognize the right to self-determination and independence of peoples under colonial and foreign domination and alien subjugation, notably the peoples of Africa and the Palestinian people."

[branford]

26. Are you actually suggesting that ALL Israelis, military and civilian,

are legitimate targets of attack, at any time. by any Palestinian, and on either side of the Green Line?

If so, I believe you desperately need to brush-up on the rest of the Geneva Conventions as well the Democratic Party Platform concerning the Israeli / Palestinian conflict.

People like you are the reason why the parties will never trust one another or outside interests, and the potential for peace grows more distant by the day.

[sulphurdunn]

27. I never suggested

that Israeli or Palestinian civilians, not engaged in armed hostilities, are legitimate targets of anybody wherever they are in relationship to the Green Line. IDF soldiers in the West Bank, border police and armed settler combatants are a different matter altogether. These people are also within their rights to defend themselves from armed Palestinians, although I have a problems with an armed soldier shooting a ten year old kid for throwing a rock that doesn't land within 50 feet of him or him being gunned down at a checkpoint for not responding quickly enough to a command in Hebrew when he or she only speaks Arabic. I also have a real problem with settlers, sneaking into Palestinian villages at night and destroying olive groves of firebombing homes with children in them, then having the same kind of celebration you accuse the Palestinians of having. I am as disturbed by that as I am by Palestinians knifing Israelis, whether in uniform or not, or blowing up buses full of innocents. This shit has been going on for too long, and it needs to stop.

[katsy]

28. And since *never* are terrorist acts a justified response

http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/ForeignPolicy/Terrorism/Palestinian/Pages/Wave-of-terror-October-2015.aspx




And Hamas pays blood $ to the families of these terrorists.

In what universe is one justified to incite terrorist violence and then cry foul when the victims fight back?

I stand with Israel

[sulphurdunn]

34. During the same period

212 Palestinians have been killed by Israelis, of which only 137 were engaged in attacks on Israelis at the time.

More than 16,000 have been injured by Israelis forces, mostly from beatings, gas inhalation and gunshots.

2400 have been detained. The majority without being charged with a crime.

Your sensitivity to the plight of the Israeli people is touching. They are not the only victims however. The violence is being incited much more by the 50 year long military occupation, the relentless annexation of Palestinian land, the ruthless blockade and attacks on Gaza and the daily humiliation suffered at the hands of the IDF than by any incitement of the Palestinian leadership.

I stand with humanity.

[katsy]

35. the Israelis retaliate.

Last edited Tue Apr 19, 2016, 09:55 AM - Edit history (1)

I would also if under constant attack and fear.

There is no argument that a war on the tactics used by Palestinians isn't going to hurt innocent people. That's a given and a tragedy for all involved. Over-reaction by the Israelis is not condoned but it is certainly an expected reaction under terrorist threats. No. Israel is not committing the terrorist acts.

The Palestinians need to put down their fucking knives guns bombs and stop indoctrinating a whole new generation to hatred of Israelis thru cartoons.

That needs to happen first.

[sulphurdunn]

39. Retaliation

is such a self-justifying word. In 2014, Palestinians kidnapped and killed 3 Israelis. Israeli retaliated by incursions into dozens of Palestinian villages where they killed 5 people and arrest 350 others. Hamas launches some rockets in retaliation. Israel launches airstrikes in retaliation. Retaliation escalated and escalated for 50 days. When it is over 66 Israeli soldiers and 6 Israeli civilians are dead, along with one Thai national. The Palestinians have inflicted about $45 million dollars in property damage and lost work hours on Israel.

In Gaza 2100 people are dead, 10,000 wounded, at least half of whom are non-combatants, of which hundreds are women and children. Property damage is estimated between $4-$6 billion.

Makes you wonder how after that kind of retaliation those fucking Palestinians still refuse to put down their fucking knives and rocks. It can't have anything to do with military occupation, blockades, colonialism and legal oppression, because we all know that Israel only retaliates.

[katsy]

41. Yes they retaliate and retaliate like their existence

depends on it. It does.

When suicide bombers and knife-wielding psychopaths come at their citizens yeah... It's fucking retaliation. And it's the cost of the palestinians' affinity for terrorist acts.

And to give these psychopaths monthly stipends after their terrorist acts... Vile beyond belief. Are you really defending these sociopaths and trying to mitigate the horror of their acts? It's not as though their going after Netenyahu... They're just going after innocents. Cowards.

Teaching hatred to their children. Fuck that and their shitty leadership.

hamas needs to demand the fucking knives bombs and guns be put down to have any legitimacy in a civilized world. Idk what their deal is but I'm positive it's not in the best interest of the palestinians.

[sulphurdunn]

42. Retaliate like their existence depends on it?

Are you kidding? Israel is the most advanced society in the ME. It has one of the worlds most formidable armies. It possesses nuclear weapons, is a de facto American satellite state that receives the lion's share of American foreign aid and disgusting ring kissing from our politicians.

The Palestinian Authority has no army. Hamas has maybe a few thousand fighters armed with AK-47s, RPGs and inaccurate homemade rockets. Neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority pose any military threat whatsoever to the continued existence of Israel. It's the other way around.

The truth is that after 50 years of occupation, colonial expansion and apartheid containment policies, the Palestinians still show no sign of letting Israel dictate what's good for them. They're almost as stubborn as Israelis.

[katsy]

43. Terrorism has little use for an army.

And terrorism is what hamas condones. Indeed they reward terrorist acts with monthly stipends and billboards portraying their terrorist heros.

Who needs a fucking army when all you really need are a few innocent street urchins to hide behind when the going gets tough.

Terrorism isn't the way to go. I can't sympathize with the people using these tactics at all. Ever.

And you condone this?

Conversation is finished. Shame on you.

[TowneshipRebellion]

52. Israel is an American satellite state?

Sometimes I am not so sure it isn't the other way round. Small quibble on a strong post. Respect!

[sulphurdunn]

57. Honestly, I'm not sure the Israeli tail

doesn't wag the American dog.

[sulphurdunn]

20. That man was also wounded, defenseless

and lying on the ground. The Israeli casually executed him. That violates IDF engagement protocols. His behavior can in no way be excused because of anything you allege to have been said by the Palestinian leadership.

[oberliner]

21. Hence the manslaughter charge

Which underlines that the behavior cannot be excused, and Israel has not excused it.

[sulphurdunn]

22. That is correct.

[MosheFeingold]

36. Baloney

I'll just use a few examples:

Israel has its share of nuts. They do something terrible, and the entire might of the Israeli legal system turns on them and they go to prison, often forever. Happened just recently.

Same thing happens in the PA, except the overwhelming majority support the ethnic cleansing (murder) of all Jews from all of the ME. One of them do something terrible, they get protected, a a parade, and are celebrated as heroes.

Or let's compare the life of a Jew in the PA and an Arab in Israel.

A Jew in the PA is subject to death. They are not allowed in.

Arabs in Israel (about 20% of the population) have the highest standard of living in the ME, are, as a class, the richest in Israel, have the highest educational attainment in Israel, can be gay, can be Muslim, Jewish, or Christian (or Druz or nothing). You know, because there is freedom of religion in Israel. And human rights. Etc. Christian Arabs in Israel now demand to be DRAFTED to the IDF because they lover their country and see how their cousins were treated in the PA (where the Islamists are killing them).

Yes, there are plenty of things that Israel has done wrong.

But the "not good sides" line is weak thinking and not worthy of a Progressive.

[jtuck004]

44. I'll choose what is worthy. They are just ordinary killers, in my opinion.

With the help of the US and Britain they murdered and terrorized the people who lived there and stole their land. Still are. They have no moral standing, and we can quit sending them welfare anytime.

I suspect we are gonna disagree, especially with what I think is your weak and self-serving idea of a progressive. I'm fine with that, don't need to listen to more excuses for what goes on under their regime.

[question everything]

47. Can you stop, for a minute your hatred of Israel and just express your sadness?

Or just keep your mouth shut and stay away from your keyboard at least on this topic?

How pathetic.

[jtuck004]

50. Your deep sense of empathy and compassion is noted. n/t

[romanic]

23. People fighting over a piece of land

Killing each other and making things worst for themselves. smdh.

[branford]

24. "People fighting and killing over a piece of land"

is an accurate description of the majority of human history.

It hardly started in 1948 or 1967 in the Middle East, and will certainly continue after we both a dead and buried.

Humans as a species are tribal, territorial, greedy and violent by nature. We can only try to minimize and contain out base impulses and instincts.

The Israeli / Palestinian conflict is really not particularly unique, it's historical body count, including terrorist attacks like the bus bombing, exponentially pales in comparison to many other similar and current conflicts around the world, and its more notable for its proxy nature representing competing and changing Cold War, left vs. right-wing, and West vs. Arab and Muslim sentiments (heck, even during the Troubles and sometimes in the UK, it was not unusual for Unionists to fly Israeli flags, and Northern Irish Republicans to fly Palestinian flags).

The primary issue is not the killing itself, although it is indeed horrible, but rather forming a viable plan to settle the majority of the dispute that is actually acceptable to all sides, and develop the trust and leadership to implement it.

[MosheFeingold]

45. Far more than land

The Islamists want genocide of the Jewish people.

Such was the case long before modern Israel exists as we know it.

Take, just for example, the 1929 pogrom where Jews were ethnically cleansed from their homes in East Jerusalem (which is why it is now "Arab East Jerusalem&quot .

[Eugene]

29. Jerusalem bus bomb wounds 16, Netanyahu hints at Palestinian link

Source: Reuters

World | Mon Apr 18, 2016 8:45pm EDT

Jerusalem bus bomb wounds 16, Netanyahu hints at Palestinian link

A bomb blew up a bus and set fire to another in Jerusalem on Monday, wounding 16 people in an attack that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu linked to a six-month-old wave of Palestinian street violence.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility from any Palestinian factions for the blast. Israeli officials declined to assign direct blame.

They said two of the casualties had not yet been identified and may have been bombers.

Suicide bombings on Israeli buses were a hallmark of the Palestinian revolt of 2000-2005 but have been rare since. With Palestinians carrying out less organized stabbing, car-ramming and gun attacks since October, Israel has been braced for an escalation.

"We will settle accounts with these terrorists," Netanyahu said in a speech, referring to whoever executed the bus attack.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians-blast-idUSKCN0XF1YC

[Marrah_G]

30. Horrific

The country of Israel need to be split into two equal new countries. Otherwise this will never end.

[leftynyc]

33. Tried that in 1948

The Israeli's accepted it. The Palestinians did not, declared war and are still in a state of war while also wanting a do-over on the deal. Unfortunately for them, their leaders keep letting them down and plenty of people just tell them to wait a little while longer, no need to sit down with the dreaded Israeli's. The UN will take care of them. Blech.

[question everything]

48. Well said. Not many people here are aware of this history

or even want to be aware of it.

[leftynyc]

54. Even the ones that pretend

to understand don't care about the truth. They've made up their minds, the Palestinians are the victims and nothing will shake that. I'm glad they represent a small minority of Americans.

[ripcord]

55. Since they don't know the history they probably never asked the question

What would have happened if Palestine had taken the same route as Transjordan, now Jordan, which was the third part of of the Partition. Without their hatred of Jews they could be a responsible member of the world community. There is no chance now, after assisting in a couple of attempted invasions against Israel and now with Hamas and their pledge to destroy Israel being part of the Palestinian government I don't see any hope of a solution in the foreseeable future.

[leftynyc]

56. Sad but true

If they had taken the state given to them in 1948, they would be right alongside Israel probably so far ahead of other Muslim countries in terms of women's rights and education. What a fucking waste. All because they listened to the Jew haters.

[AuntPatsy]

53. This hates being orchestrated, it's just never ending, I cannot imagine what those over seas

go through every moment of every day...

[MowCowWhoHow III]

62. Israel police say bus bombing 'suicide attack' by Hamas militant

Israel police say bus bombing 'suicide attack' by Hamas militant

Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli police said Thursday that a bus bombing this week in Jerusalem that wounded 20 people was a "suicide attack" by a young Hamas militant.

The attacker, a 19-year-old from Beit Jala near Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, died from his wounds on Wednesday.

Hamas had previously said he was a member and that he had carried out the attack.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/31409383/hamas-says-member-behind-jerusalem-bus-bombing/